Method for producing film having security features, film and card-shaped data carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a film (30) for a card-shaped data carrier having security features, comprising the following steps: providing at least one film material having a primary color; providing at least one pigment; introducing the film material into an extruder (11) of an extrusion device (10); -heating the film material to form a melt (20); -individually heating the pigments to form a flowable color ink (21); -extruding the melt (20) through a nozzle outlet gap (12) of the extrusion device (10); feeding a flowable color ink (21) into the extruded melt (20) in order to form a raised mixture (22); mixing the flowable color ink (21) and the extruded melt (20) in the raised mixture (22) to form a film (30), the extruded melt (20) and the flowable color ink (21) having different material properties such that they do not uniformly mix with each other, whereby random polychromaticity (50) can be seen in a top view of the film (30). The invention also relates to a film (30) and to a card-shaped data carrier (32).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a film with security features for a card-shaped data carrier, a film with security features for a card-shaped data carrier and a card-shaped data carrier with a film. Background Art

[0002] A variety of card-shaped data carriers are known from the prior art, such as smart cards, chip cards, in particular chip cards using RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, integrated circuit cards, dual interface cards, medical cards, transportation cards or identity cards. In particular, smart cards, such as credit cards or payment cards, are used to carry out financial transactions. Data carriers, such as valuable documents, such as passports and identification documents, identity cards are increasingly used in the public domain and also in the field of companies.

[0003] Card-shaped data carriers usually have a card body with a module opening for accommodating a chip module or other electronic components for contact and / or contactless data communication. It is usually provided that the card body is composed of a plurality of films, wherein the individual films are connected to form a film layer composite material by means of pressure- and heat-based lamination. Preferably, a design film with anti-counterfeiting features or a transparent cover film, a so-called cover film, is attached to the surface of the card body. Optical anti-counterfeiting features on card-shaped data carriers are known and are usually intended to increase anti-counterfeiting security.

[0004] It is also known to use, in particular, uniform, monochromatic films for lamination to form film composites. Although it is possible to achieve a certain degree of volumetric polychromaticity of a card-shaped data carrier by using a plurality of films with different colors, this is usually uniform and has a fixed pattern. In order to increase the security of card-shaped data carriers against counterfeiting, it is desirable to provide the card-shaped data carrier with a random polychromaticity. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for producing a film for a card-shaped data carrier having a security feature which has improved polychromaticity.

[0006] The technical problem is solved by a method for producing a film with security features for a card-shaped data carrier, a film with security features and a card-shaped data carrier. Design solutions and further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. Features and details related to the method according to the invention for producing a film with security features for a card-shaped data carrier also apply to the film with security features and the card-shaped data carrier according to the invention, and vice versa, so that reference can always be made to each other with regard to the disclosure of the various aspects of the invention.

[0007] In the scope of this application, the present invention can preferably be used for smart cards, in particular credit cards and payment cards, identification documents or verification cards, medical cards or transportation cards. However, the present invention can also be used for other RFID manufacturing, such as key cards, access cards, tokens, wearable devices or security documents.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for producing a film with security features for a card-shaped data carrier is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

[0009] - providing at least one film material having a base color;

[0010] - providing at least one pigment;

[0011] - introducing the film material into the extruder of the extrusion device;

[0012] - heating the film material to form a melt;

[0013] - heating the pigments separately to form flowable inks;

[0014] - Extruding the melt through the nozzle outlet gap of the extrusion device;

[0015] - introducing a flowable ink into the extruded melt to form a convex mixture;

[0016] - Mixing a flowable ink and an extruded melt in a convex mixture to form a film, wherein the extruded melt and the flowable ink have different material properties so that they do not mix homogeneously with one another, whereby a random polychromaticity can be seen in a top view of the film.

[0017] In the context of the present application, the film material can be provided, for example, as a granular material for an extruder, in particular a plastic granular material or a polymer granular material. The base color of the film material is preferably monochromatic and uniform. The pigment can be provided in powder form in particular. Preferably, a plurality of pigments can also be provided.

[0018] The film material is introduced or filled into the extruder, and heated or melted to form a melt. In other words, the film material is converted into a fusible state. The pigment is heated or melted separately from the heated film material to form a flowable ink. In other words, the pigment is heated separately from the film material in space. The melt can then be extruded or pressed out through the nozzle outlet gap. The nozzle outlet gap forms an opening for molding here. Preferably, the flowable ink is especially input into the extruded melt adjacent to the nozzle outlet gap. By inputting the flowable ink into the extruded melt, a convex mixture can be formed. In the convex mixture, the flowable ink and the extruded melt can be mixed and form a film. Due to different material properties, the mixing is inhomogeneous. Preferably, an inhomogeneous random mixing is performed. This means that random polychromaticity can be seen when observing the formed film from a top view. The random polychromaticity of the film forms an anti-counterfeiting feature in particular. The convex mixture may usually cool or completely solidify in a certain time interval due to cooling after coming out of the nozzle outlet gap.

[0019] The reason for the occurrence of randomly or accidentally distributed polychromaticity is, in particular, that the mixing of the flowable ink and the extruded melt in the protruding mixture is not uniform, i.e., randomly distributed. This allows the pigments of the base color and the pigment to mix and produce polychromaticity. In other words, a polychromatic marble texture of the film is produced. For example, it can be provided that a red pigment and a film material with a white base color are provided. For example, a red, white or mixed marble texture is then produced in the protruding mixture. In principle, any color can be selected within the scope of the present application.

[0020] It is also conceivable within the scope of the present application to use a coextrusion process for the film to be formed. For example, a first film material and a second film material can be provided. The first film material can be introduced into the main extruder of the extrusion device. The second film material can be introduced into the secondary extruder of the extrusion device. The film material can be heated to form a first melt and a second melt. The first melt and the second melt can then be coextruded through the nozzle outlet gap of the extrusion device, thereby forming a multilayer film as a whole, wherein the multilayer film also has random polychromaticity due to the input of the flowable color ink.

[0021] Generally speaking, in the process of coextrusion, different materials, especially three or four or more materials can be conveyed by the same extrusion device. In addition, it is conceivable that generally a plurality of materials are provided to the main extruder, and a plurality of materials are provided to the secondary extruder.

[0022] The sequence of the steps of the method according to the invention is not necessarily limited to the sequence described or fixed in time.

[0023] The invention has the advantage that the randomly or accidentally distributed polychromaticity is a unique anti-counterfeiting feature for each individual card-shaped data carrier, which can be permanently integrated into the film, thereby significantly improving the anti-counterfeiting security of the card-shaped data carrier with such a security feature. In particular, translucent, opaque randomly distributed color films can be produced, which have different tones in the volume and / or surface. The user of the card-shaped data carrier can easily recognize the polychromaticity. The polychromaticity also has the advantage that it cannot be easily reproduced by copying the card-shaped data carrier or by scanning and printing, even if the copying or printing quality is high. Therefore, the unauthorized copying of the card-shaped data carrier can be prevented by means of the security feature and the authenticity of the card-shaped data carrier can be ensured. The method according to the invention can also be advantageously used by commercially common extrusion devices and is therefore easy to implement.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the method can also include the following steps:

[0025] - Cooling the film at a roller arrangement adjacent to the nozzle outlet gap, the roller arrangement comprising at least one cooling roller.

[0026] In the context of the present application, the roller arrangement can preferably include a plurality of rollers, which can be arranged coupled or adjacent. In particular, one or more cooling rollers, conveyor rollers or winding rollers can be provided. The number of rollers of the roller arrangement can be specifically adapted to the film production, in particular to the cooling process of the film. The roller arrangement is preferably arranged closely adjacent to or directly adjacent to the nozzle outlet gap.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the roller arrangement comprises at least two cooling rollers, wherein the convex mixture is conveyed between the cooling rollers. The cooling rollers are arranged in particular opposite one another so that the convex mixture is conveyed between the cooling rollers after exiting the nozzle outlet gap. The convex mixture can be conveyed in particular in the gap between the cooling rollers. This advantageously allows the flowable ink and the extruded melt to mix in the convex mixture. The distance between the cooling rollers or the size of the gap between the cooling rollers can be adapted in particular to the thickness of the film to be formed.

[0028] Preferably, it can be provided that different speeds of the cooling rollers are set and / or that the cooling rollers are run alternately at different speeds. This advantageously enables the process of forming the ridges between the cooling rollers to be set more precisely and adapted to the properties of the film to be produced. In particular, the throughput, i.e. the amount of ridged mixture that is conveyed through the cooling rollers, can also be adjusted. This, for example, can also influence and adapt the marbleization of the film.

[0029] It is particularly preferred that the film material is provided with a transparent or opaque base color. The film material is, for example, a plastic or polymer material. In other words, a polymer material is a carrier material for polychromaticity. For example, different polymers such as polycarbonate (PC), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene, polyester or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be used. The polymer material is preferably composed of recycled materials, such as so-called marine plastics, which are based on marine plastic waste. For example, it can be provided that the film material is provided with a transparent base color and a flowable red ink is input. This is, for example, a simple form of marble texture. If a film material with an opaque base color such as a white base color is used, more complex polychromaticity and marble texture can be achieved by mixing with a flowable red ink. The complexity of the polychromaticity and marble texture can be adjusted and adapted according to the base color of the film material used and the pigment for the flowable ink.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the flowable ink is thermally stable and / or has a high viscosity. More advantageously, the flowable ink has temperature stability. This ensures that the ink is not destroyed when heated or converted into a flowable state.

[0031] Particularly preferably, it can be provided that the flowable ink consists of an offset ink or a radiation-crosslinking ink, in particular a UV ink. In general, other flowable inks are also conceivable.

[0032] It is preferably proposed that the flowable ink is fed into the extruded melt by means of a separate nozzle or by means of the nozzle of the extrusion device. In the embodiment of the nozzle of the extrusion device, the nozzle can preferably be arranged adjacent to or closely adjacent to the nozzle outlet gap and the extruder of the extrusion device. It is thus possible to ensure that the flowable ink and the extruded melt can be combined as quickly and therefore efficiently to form a convex mixture. The embodiment of the separate nozzle has the advantage that the pigment can be heated individually and particularly simply to form the flowable ink. However, it is also preferably provided that the separate nozzle is arranged adjacent to or closely adjacent to the extruder and the nozzle outlet gap of the extrusion device.

[0033] Preferably, provision can be made for the nozzle to be heated, thereby making it particularly easy to heat the pigment to form a flowable ink.

[0034] Advantageously, it can be provided that the nozzle has at least one chamber for a flowable ink. The chamber is in particular a receiving unit for providing a pigment. In other words, the pigment can be introduced or filled into the chamber of the nozzle. The pigment can then be heated in the chamber of the nozzle, whereby a flowable ink can be formed. For this purpose, for example, the nozzle itself can be heated or an external heat input can be performed. The flowable ink can then be pressed out of the chamber by pressure through the narrow opening of the nozzle and introduced (fed) into the extruded melt. It is thus preferably possible to meter the flowable ink.

[0035] In particular, it can be provided that the nozzle has a plurality of chambers, in particular a multi-chamber system, wherein different flowable inks are provided for each chamber. With the aid of a plurality of chambers, complex polychromaticity to be produced can be provided by using a plurality of pigments. Different pigments can be particularly easily distributed with the aid of a plurality of chambers, and are nevertheless heated simultaneously to provide different flowable inks. In this way, efficient metering and input of different flowable inks can be performed. For example, three chambers can be provided in the nozzle, wherein a red pigment is introduced or filled into the first chamber, a green pigment is introduced or filled into the second chamber, and a blue pigment is introduced or filled into the third chamber. Due to the heating of the nozzle, the corresponding pigments in the chambers can be heated simultaneously, and red, green and blue flowable inks can be produced in the corresponding chambers. The flowable ink can then be pressed out through the narrow opening on the nozzle and input into the extruded melt. In other words, each chamber is provided with a correspondingly assigned narrow opening, wherein the corresponding flowable ink can flow out from the nozzle.

[0036] It can be particularly preferably provided that the chambers are arranged one behind the other in the nozzle, thereby enabling the different flowable inks to be supplied in strips. In other words, the chambers are preferably arranged adjacent to one another or side by side in the nozzle. The flowable ink can thus flow out of the nozzle in strips. This allows a particularly simple and targeted supply of flowable ink to the extruded melt.

[0037] Advantageously, it can be provided that different flowable inks have different material properties. This prevents the inks from mixing homogeneously and forming a brown-black mixture. In particular, it is possible to achieve a desired inhomogeneous mixing due to the different material properties and thus a random polychromaticity. Different flowable inks may differ, for example, in the parameters of the melting temperature and / or melt viscosity. Preferably, inks with a high melt viscosity are used.

[0038] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a film with anti-counterfeiting features for a card-shaped data carrier is provided, the film being produced according to the method described in one of the above embodiments. The above advantages and modifications also apply.

[0039] Preferably, it can be provided that the film has a thickness of 25-100 μm, preferably 50-100 μm. The film with the security feature can be laminated or bonded, for example, to form a film layer composite. Particularly preferably, the produced film with the security feature can be used as a cover film for a card-shaped data carrier.

[0040] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a card-shaped data carrier, in particular a smart card, is provided, having a card body, on which a film having anti-counterfeiting features according to one of the above embodiments is arranged. The above advantages and modifications also apply. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The invention is described below in the context of embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Of course, the individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another if this makes technical sense, without departing from the scope of the invention. In the drawings, elements with the same function and mode of action are respectively provided with the same reference numerals. The following is schematically illustrated in the drawings:

[0042] Figure 1 A method for producing a film with anti-counterfeiting features for a card-shaped data carrier according to one embodiment of the invention is shown, and

[0043] Figure 2 A card-shaped data carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 Method of manufacturing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 A method for producing a film 30 with security features for a card-shaped data carrier according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0045] An extrusion device 10 is provided for making a film. The extrusion device 10 comprises, for example, an extruder 11, a first nozzle 13a, a second nozzle 13b and a nozzle outlet gap 12. First, a film material not shown having a white base color is provided. The film material can be, for example, a plastic granular material. The film material is introduced or filled into the extruder 11.

[0046] The film material is then heated or melted to form a melt 20. The film material is heated, for example, in an extruder 11 and extruded or pressed out through a first nozzle 13a or a nozzle outlet gap 12. The extruded melt 20 is shown as a mass flow by a dashed line in the figure. The extruded melt 20 is then conveyed, for example, in the direction of the arrow to the nozzle outlet gap 12.

[0047] In addition, a red pigment not shown is provided. The pigment can be set to powder, for example. It is particularly provided that the pigment is heated separately to form a red flowable ink 21. For this purpose, a second nozzle 13b is provided, wherein the pigment can be introduced or filled into the second nozzle 13b. For this purpose, the second nozzle 13b has a chamber not shown, for example. The chamber is especially used to provide a holding unit for the pigment. In other words, the pigment can be introduced or filled into the chamber of the nozzle 13b. Then the pigment can be heated in the chamber of the nozzle 13b, thereby forming a flowable ink 21. For this purpose, the second nozzle 13b is heated to provide the necessary heat input. The flowable ink 21 can then be pressed out of the chamber through the narrow opening of the nozzle 13b by pressure, so as to be then input into the extruded melt 20. The first nozzle 13a and the second nozzle 13b are arranged, for example, adjacently or closely adjacently. The flowable ink 21 flowing out of the second nozzle 13b is shown as a mass flow in the figure by another dotted line. By way of example, provision is made here for the flowable ink 21 and the extruded melt 20 to be conveyed parallel to one another in the direction of the arrows after they have emerged from the nozzles 13 a, b.

[0048] Furthermore, it is provided that a flowable ink 21 is introduced into the extruded melt 20 to form a convex mixture 22. For this purpose, a roller arrangement 40 is provided by way of example, which comprises a plurality of, in particular four, rollers 41, 42, 43, which are arranged coupled or adjacent. For example, two cooling rollers 41, a winding roller 43 and a conveying roller 42 are provided by way of example. The number of rollers 41, 42, 43 of the roller arrangement 40 can be specifically adapted to the film production, in particular to the cooling process of the extruded melt 20.

[0049] Two cooling rollers 41 are arranged closely adjacent to each other. A cooling roller 41 installed on the right and a cooling roller 41 installed on the left are provided. In addition, the two cooling rollers 41 are arranged adjacent to the nozzles 13a, b or the nozzle outlet gap 12. Thus, for example, the extruded melt 20 is brought into contact with the cooling roller 41 on the right. The flowable ink 21 is in contact with the cooling roller 41 on the left. The cooling roller 41 is rotatably supported and can therefore input the flowable ink 21 into the extruded melt 20 through a rotation process. When the flowable ink 21 is in contact with the extruded melt 20, a convex mixture 22 is formed. The convex mixture 22 is illustratively formed between the two cooling rollers 41. The flowable ink 21 and the extruded melt 20 are mixed in the convex mixture 22.

[0050] The invention provides that the extruded melt 20 and the flowable ink 21 have different material properties, so that they do not mix uniformly. In other words, the extruded melt 20 and the flowable ink 21 are mixed unevenly. If, for example, the cooling roller 41 rotates at different speeds, the mixing can be more uneven. As described in the example, the white base color of the extruded melt 20 and the red ink of the flowable ink 21 are mixed. The convex mixture 22 thus presents a random polychromaticity consisting of red, white and mixed colors thereof.

[0051] On the cooling roller 41, the protruding mixture 22 with random polychromaticity can not only be conveyed, but also cooled and solidified, and thus a film 30 with random polychromaticity is formed. The film 30 is illustratively represented by a black solid line in the figure. After the cooling roller 41, the formed film 30 can be conveyed to the winding roller 43 through the conveying roller 42 in the direction of the arrow and wound on the winding roller 43.

[0052] The user can see the random polychromaticity, in particular in a top view of the film 30. The random polychromaticity forms a security feature of the film 30 and thus increases security against counterfeiting.

[0053] The random polychromaticity 50 is exemplarily Figure 2 Shown in. Figure 2 A card-shaped data carrier 32, in particular a smart card, is shown, which has a card body, on which a film 30 with random polychromaticity 50 is arranged as an anti-counterfeiting feature. The film 30 is arranged, for example, on the surface of the card body. The card body may include any number of other films, which may, for example, be laminated to form a film layer composite material. In addition, the card body also has a chip module 31, by which contact-type data communication can be provided. The chip module 31 is arranged and accommodated in a module opening. For example, any number of other electronic components may be provided for contactless data communication.

[0054] The random polychromaticity 50 of the film 30 has a plurality of randomly distributed color surface areas. In particular, white color surface areas, red color surface areas (illustratively represented in black) and mixed color areas, such as pink areas (illustratively represented in gray) can be produced. The color surface areas have random sizes and random edge contours. In the user's perception, the color surface areas can smoothly transition into each other at their surface area boundaries, or the surface area boundaries are almost sharp. A randomly distributed sequence of color surface areas is generated for the user of the card-shaped data carrier 32. In other words, the user can perceive the multi-colored marble texture on the film 30 of the card-shaped data carrier 32. Therefore, the card-shaped data carrier 32 has a clear optical anti-counterfeiting feature, which can be optically detected and analyzed.

[0055] Reference numerals list

[0056] 10 Extrusion device

[0057] 11 Extruder

[0058] 12 Nozzle outlet clearance

[0059] 13a First nozzle

[0060] 13b Second nozzle

[0061] 20 Melt

[0062] 21 Flowable ink

[0063] 22 Raised mixture

[0064] 30 membrane

[0065] 31 Chip Module

[0066] 32 Card-shaped data carrier

[0067] 40 Roller Unit

[0068] 41 Cooling roller

[0069] 42 conveyor roller

[0070] 43 Winding roller

[0071] 50 Random Polychromaticity

Claims

1. A method for producing a film (30) with a security feature for a card-shaped data carrier (32), the method comprising the following steps: - providing at least one film material having a base color; - providing at least one pigment; - introducing the film material into an extruder (11) of an extrusion device (10); - heating the film material to form a melt (20); - heating the pigments individually to form flowable inks (21); - extruding the melt (20) through the nozzle outlet gap (12) of the extrusion device (10); - introducing a flowable ink (21) into the extruded melt (20) to form a convex mixture (22); - mixing the flowable ink (21) and the extruded melt (20) in the protruding mixture (22) to form a film (30), wherein: The extruded melt (20) and the flowable ink (21) have different material properties, so that they do not mix homogeneously with one another, whereby a random polychromaticity (50) is visible in a top view of the film (30).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises the following steps: - Cooling the film (30) at a roller arrangement (40) adjacent to the nozzle outlet gap (12), said roller arrangement comprising at least one cooling roller (41).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The roller arrangement (40) comprises at least two cooling rollers (41), wherein the convex mixture (22) is conveyed between the cooling rollers (41).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that Different speeds of the cooling rollers (41) are set, and / or the cooling rollers (41) are operated alternately at different speeds.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The film material is provided with a transparent or opaque base color.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The flowable ink (21) is thermally stable and / or has a high viscosity.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The flowable ink (21) is composed of offset ink or radiation cross-linking ink, in particular ultraviolet ink.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A flowable ink (21) is introduced into the extruded melt (20) by means of a separate nozzle (13) or by means of the nozzle (13) of the extrusion device (10).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The nozzle (13) is heated.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The nozzle (13) has at least one chamber for flowable ink (21).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The nozzle (13) has a plurality of chambers, in particular a multi-chamber system, wherein a different flowable ink (21) is provided for each chamber.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The chambers are arranged one behind the other in the nozzle (13), so that different flowable inks (21) can be supplied in strips.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: Different flowable inks (21) have different material properties.

14. A film (30) with security features for a card-shaped data carrier (32), the film being produced by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The membrane (30) according to claim 14, characterized in that The film (30) has a thickness of 25-100 μm, preferably 50-100 μm.

16. A card-shaped data carrier (32), in particular a smart card, having a card body, on which a film having a security feature according to one of claims 14 or 15 is arranged.

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